Valve’s Steam needs beta testers for Linux Client

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Linux gamers are accustomed to being reconsiderations when it pertains to most major game releases, but Valve appears set to change that soon.

The company declared a pending beta test for a long-awaited Linux version of its popular game distribution service.

Valve is seeking to fill 1,000 spots for the closed beta through a Web survey for existing Steam users, asking them to detail their gaming system and experience with Linux.

The Steam client will favor Ubuntu 12.04 distribution, as Valve announced back in July. The opening will include 2009’s
Left 4 Dead 2 as the first game ported to the system.

Valve’s support for the free operating system has come a long way since 2010, when the company said it had no plans to port the service to Linux. In August, Valve boasted the Linux port of Left 4 Dead 2 actually outperformed the Windows version, reaching 315 frames per second on a high-end testing rig.

Developer Croteam also let slip on its Facebook page that its Serious Sam 3 would be usable during the Linux beta, beside Valve games like Portal and Team Fortress 2. Further announcements concerning Steam on Linux are expected during the Ubuntu Develop Summit this week.